Front end loader attachment



Jan. Z9? H957 J. c. MONEICE FRONT END LOADER ATTACHMENT 4 Sheets-Sneet l 'Filed oct. 12, 1955 Jan. Z9, 957 J. c. MCNEICE FRONT END LOADER ATTACHMENT 4 Sheets-Sweet 2 Filed OCb. l2, 1953 y WCYLBN. ce MQMMM Coftf Jan. 29 1957 J. C. MCNEICE FRONT END LOADER ATTACHMENT 4 Sheets-Snee 3 Filed 00T.. l2, 1953 LO S9 rovnmrvomw OJO mea C DVC/ff QYLC CYL@ ce M QW Mg@ Jan. 29, i957 J. c. MCNEICE FRONT END LOADER ATTACHMENT WQAM 4 Sheets-Snees 4 Filed Oct. l2, 1955 f dm @fname c e @@Mmw in; l"

States FRN'I' END LOADER ATTACHMENT .lames Curtis McNeice, Lillngton, Leamington Spa, England, assigner to MasseyHarris-Ferguson (Sales) Limiisd, a British company Application ctober 12, 1953, Serial No. 5,557 l Claims priority, application Great Britain Getober 17, 1952 vice.

lt is the general aim of the invention to provide such a front end loader attachment of improved, simplified, and rugged construction.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a front end loader having a pair of pivoted booms rocked by a single hydraulic ram, as distinguished from front end loaders of well known arrangement having a separate hydraulic actuator, such as a piston-and-cylinder jack, for each boom. Front end loaders actuated by only one hydraulic ram have been previously proposed, but involved a sliding or rolling contact of parts subject to fouling by foreign matter such as dirt, or debris. Such prior front end loaders required an unduly long working stroke for the ram. A further object of the invention is the provision of a front end loader operable by a single ram having a relatively short stroke to effect considerable elevation of the material handling device.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a front end loader attachment embodying the features of the present invention and shown as mounted on a tractor, the attachment booms and a material handling device being illustrated in elevated positions by dashed lines;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a front end loader attachment and tractor shown in Fig. 1;

Pigs. 3, 4, and 5 are perspective views of the booms, cross beam, and struts, respectively, employed in the present front end loader attachment;

Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention constituting an improved and preferred construction; and

Fig. 7 is a detail View, in perspective, of a prefer-red form of the cross beam and its connection with a lifting actuator and the booms.

While the invention is shown and described in some detail with reference to particular embodiments thereof, there is no intention that it thus be limited to such detail. On the contrary, it is intended here to cover all alterations, modifications, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, the front end loader attachment, in keeping with the invention, comprises a pair of forwardly extending interbraced booms 10, 11 adapted to be pivotally mounted on a tractor 12, for rocking about a transverse axis midway along the length of the tractor. The forward ends of the booms 1t), 11 carry a material handling device here shown as a known form of scoop 14. The booms and 11 are powered to rock and elevate the device 14 by asingle extensible atent 'icc actuator disposed beneath the tractor and connected at one end to a cross beam 15 carried between depending portions or arms 16 of the booms. Preferably, the actuator is a hydraulic rarn 20 adapted to be connected to a hydraulic system of the tractor.

The tractor itself may take any one of a variety of forms. That shown here will be recognized by those skilled in the art as the familiar Ferguson tractor. It has a forward engine assembly 21 connected by a medial transmission assembly 22 to a center housing 23 from which axles 24 extend through axle casings 25, 26 to large rear traction wheels 27, 28. Smaller, steerable front wheels 29, 3d are carried by a front axle assembly fastened to the underside of the engine assembly 21.

rfhe tractor 12 is preferably equipped with a hydraulic system (not shown) of the type described in Ferguson Patent 2,118,180 for actuating a three point rear implement hitch (not shown) and other hydraulic accessories.

For pivotally mounting the booms 10, 11 on the` tractor 12, a pair of support structures 35, 36 are provided, each adapted to be removably fixed on either side of the tractor at points fore and aft, and each providing a pivot seat 38 located substantially midway along the tractors length. As here shown, each support 35, 36 includes a pair of V-spaced tubular struts d0, 41 attached by removable pivot pins 42 to plates 44- bolted on flats of the rear axle casings 25 and 26. These ats are usually existing on the rear axle casings to accommodate mounting of various other fixtures. The struts 40, 41 converge forwardly to support apertured forked ears defining the pivot seats 38. A forwardly extending, vertically and horizontally inclined brace 45 is pivoted to or rigid at one end with each pivot seat 38, the other end being pin-connected to a bracket 46 bolted to an existing flange on the underside of the engine assembly 21. The braces 4S not only aid in the vertical support of the pivot seats 38 afforded by the struts (the upper struts 40 being in tension and the lower struts 41 in compression to support weight placed in the pivot seat), but also restrain the pivot seats and struts against transverse play.

Each of the booms 10, 11 has an apertured bearing S0 received by one of the pivot seats 38 and connected for rocking by a removable pin 51. Forward portions 54 extend from the bearings to the front of the tractor, being curved downwardly to clear the front wheels 29, 30 when their forward ends rest on the ground.` The wheels 29, 3d do not interfere with the rocking or swinging movement of the booms 10 and 11, nor is their rotation and steering hampered when the booms are lowered. Pref- -erably a reinforcing tie 55 is welded at its ends to points spaced on the upper side of the forward portions 54. The tie 5S is curved to a greater degree than the forward portions 54 and is connected at intermediate points bywelded plates 56. p

The forward ends of the booms are apertured for swingingly receiving the scoop 14, or other material handling device, which may be controlled in its tilting or holding action by any suitable linkage (not shown) actuated from the driver-7s seat on the tractor. A cross bar 58 and an angled welded brace 59 maintain the forward boom portions 54 in parallel relation to operate as a unit in lifting the loaded scoop 14 well above the ground.

Each boom 10, 11 further includes the aft arms 16 rigidly depending from the bearings 5l) and terminating in apertured bearing eyes 60 below the tractors under side. The arms 16 are short in length compared to the forward portions 54 and are angled, in this instance, at slightly more than ninety degrees from the latter. Other relative angles between the forward portions 54 and the arms 16 may also be employed, although it is preferable that the arms be vertical when the scoop 14 is elevated to one half its maximum height, so that the total vertical distance through which the lower' ends of the arms move is minimized. The booms 1t), 11 are completed by reinforcing struts 61 welded between the mid section of each forward portion 54 and the corresponding arm 16, providing a strong triangular construction braced against the forward horizontal push on the lower ends of the arms.

The cross beam 15 (Figs. 3 and 4) may be fabricated by welding end plates 65 to a length of standard H-beam 66. inwardly spaced plates 68 are welded to the beam 66 and the end pairs 65, 68 thus provided are apertured to receive pivot pins. At the center of the beam a pair of vertically spaced apertured lugs 69 are welded for receiving one end of the extensible actuator 20. The beam 15 is transversely disposed beneath the underside of the tractor 12, being pivotally connected between the arms 16 by removable pins 76 inserted through the bearing eyes 60 and plates 65, 68. Substantially horizontal fore and aft movement of the beam 15 effects rocking of the booms 10, 11 to raise and lower the scoop 1.

Such fore and aft movement of the beam i is provided on the forward stroke by the actuator Ztl, here illustrated as a single hydraulic ram, the weight of the scoop 14*- and booms 10, il being sufficient to shove the cross beam rearwardly when pressure is removed from the ram. This action is simply achieved by connecting one end of the ram 2t) to a point aft on the underside of the tractor 12, preferably to the bottom of the center housing 23. As here shown, the ram is pin-connected between a pair of laterally spaced fore and aft angle straps 7.2 bolted to the center housing and having alined apertured ears '73. The forward end of ythe ram 2d is apertured and held by a pin passed through the lugs 69 on the beam 66. No other support is necessary for the ram 29, and it remains substantially in a horizontal plane as it is energized to push the cross beam 15 forwardly. Because the arms 16 are relatively short and the beams forward portions 5d relatively long, the ram 26 need have only a short working stroke to raise the scoop 14 high above the tractor (see dashed lines in Fig. l). The ram Ztl may be connected into the tractors hydraulic system through a suitable control valve (not shown) located conveniently to the drivers seat on the tractor.

The operation of the front end loader will be readily understood from the foregoing description. By way of brief recapitulation, when pressure is removed from the ram 20, the forward portions 54 of the booms 1@ and 11 drop under their own Weight until the scoop 14 lies on the ground. Advancement of the tractor 12 then causes the scoop 14 to bite into material to be transported or loaded, e. g., dirt, sand, grain, or the like. Upon energization of the ram 20, it shoves the cross beam 15 and the boom arms 16 forward to thereby rock the booms 10, 11 clockwise (Fig. l) and raise the filled scoop 14. The tractor 12 may then be driven to the delivery location and the scoop 14 released to drop its load into an elevated container, such as a truck bed. Upon return to the pick-up location, pressure is removed from the ram Ztl, thus dropping the scoop to the ground for loading.

Turning now to the modified embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7, a simplified and improved organization for preventing lateral movement of the support structures and the booms is provided. Additionally, an improved form for the cross beam, resulting in greater stability and smoother actuation is shown. To the extent that corresponding parts appear in Figs. 6 and 7, the same reference characters employed in Figs. l to 5 are used, with the suffix a added.

One of the principal 'differences in this modified embodiment lies in the complete elimination of the bracing struts 45 shown in Figs. l and 2. The support structures, comprising the struts 40a, 41a pivoted to the axle housing thus become forwardly extending cantilever supports for the respective booms. Lateral play of the support structures 35a and 36a is prevented and bracing of the structures against any sidewise forces on the booms ida. and 11a is effected by means carried on each pivot seat 38a and extending inwardly for bearing against a part `of the tractor'. In this instance, pads or bosses Si) are integrally formed or secured, as by welding, on the inner faces of the respective pivot seats 38a. in order to form an inward projection, bolts 81 are threaded into the respective bosses Sil, and are provided with enlarged discs 82 on their heads. The tractor 12a is normally equipped with the usual projecting foot rests 84 on either side of the transmission assembly 22a. The discs 82 are, therefore, con veniently located to bear against the outer ends of the respective foot rests. This serves effectively to prevent inward shifting of the pivot seats 38a, as occasioned by a tendency of the support structures to swing in a horizontal plane about their aft points of attachment when there is a sidewise force on the booms 10a and 11a. Since the arms l6a are interconnected by the cross beam 15a, this arrangement thus serves also to prevent outward shifting or splaying of the pivot seats 38a. By compressive forces in either of the bolts 31 and its corresponding foot rest 34, lateral shifting and sidewise bending movements on the structures 35a and 36a are, therefore, prevented in either inward or outward directions.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 7, the improved cross beam 15a, in this instance, includes a U- shaped cross member 9U which is oriented to have its side portions horizontally disposed and opening rearwardly. For pivotal connection to the two depending arms 16:1, spaced apertured lu gs 91 and 92. are welded, or otherwise formed to extend rearwardly from the respec tive ends of the member 9i). The lugs 91 and f2 receive the bearing eyes 66a on the lower ends of the arms 16a, and removable, horizontally disposed pivot pins 94 complete the connections. The ram 20a is pivotally attached at its aft end by a horizontal pin inserted through the apertured ears 73a on the angle straps 72a, which are bolted to the underside of the tractor, as previously described. For the pivotal connection of the ram Zita at its forward end to the cross beam 15a, a vertical pin 9S is inserted through the midportion of the member tl, and through an apertured tongue 96 received between the` vertically opposite side portions of the member 90. The tongue 96 may be an integral part of the piston which is axially moved within the rams cylinder. it is to be noted that the vertical pivot pin 95 is located forwardly of the two horizontal pivot pins 94, so that the cross member does not tend to bend the tongue 56 up or down as the jack extends and contracts. Rather, the beam 15ar may pivot freely on the pins 94, the effort of the tongue 96 in shoving the beam forwardly being taken solely as a thrust on the pin 95, such thrust being directed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ram.

In the loader attachment of the present invention there is no necessity for a sliding track support or any auxiliary guide for the ram, which is mounted solely by means of its fore and aft pivot connections. The apparatus is thus easily removed from or mounted on the tractor and there is little danger of fouling the moving parts by foreign debris or vegetation in which the tractor might be operated. The ram may have a relatively short stroke to produce considerable elevation of the scoop owing to the great length of the booms forward portions as compared with the arms. Because the ram may have a short stroke and the lower ends of the arms reach the bottom of their arcuate travel when the forward portions are approximately at half their maximum elevation, the angular swing of the ram about its aft pivot connection is minimized so that the mechanical advantage of the ram in acting through the arms remains substantially constant over the whole range of travel. And with such a short stroke the ram may be made of sufficiently large diameter to exert the required lifting forces without requiring an undue volume of pressure iiuid. While the several parts are few in number as well as simple in construction and light in maar weight, they provide an extremely Sturdy attachment having sufficient `strength for lifting relatively heavy loads in the scoop.

I claim as my invention:

1. For use on a tractor equipped with a hydraulic system, a front end loader attachment comprising, in `cornbination, a pair of support members adapted to be attached to points spaced fore and aft one on either side of the `tractor and presenting pivot seats in their middle portions, a pair of booms pivoted respectively in said seats to rock about an axis transverse of the tractor, said booms having forward portions extending to the front of the tractor and curved downwardly to clear the tractors front wheels when the forward ends rest on the ground, said booms further having relatively short, as compared to said forward portions, depending aft arms extending below the tractors underside, a cross beam extending transversely beneath the tractor and horizontally pivoted between said arms, a hydraulic ram adapted to be energized by the tractors hydraulic system and to be horizontally pivoted at one end to the underside of the tractors center housing, said ram extending longitudinally along the underside of the tractor, and vertical pivot means connecting the other end of said ram to the mid portion of said beam to thereby rock said booms and raise their forward portions when energized.

having a hydraulic system, said attachment comprising,

2. A front end loader attachment for use on a tractor l comprising, in combination, a pair of support members each adapted to be attached to points spaced fore and aft on either side of the tractor, a pair of booms each pivotally mounted substantially midway along one of said support members for rocking about an axis transverse of the tractor, each of said booms having a downwardly curved portion extending forwardly from its pivotal mount and a depending arm extending substantially downward from its pivotal mount, a cross beam horizontally pivoted between said depending arms and extending transversely beneath the tractor, and an extensible hydraulic ram horizontally pivoted to a point aft on the underside of the tractor and vertically pivoted to the midportion of said beam, extension of said ram pushing said beam and depending arms forwardly to rock said booms and elevate their forward portions without the imposition of bending stresses on said ram.

3. A front end loader attachment for use on a tractor comprising, in combination, a pair of booms adapted to be pivotally mounted on either side of the tractor for rocking about a transverse axis, said booms having parallel forwardly extending portions adapted to receive a material handling device in front of the tractor, said booms further having parallel depending arms, a cross beam horizontally pivoted between the extremities of said arms and extending transversely beneath the tractor, and an extensible actuator having one end horizontally pivoted to a point aft on the underside of the tractor and vertically pivoted at its other end to said beam, extension of said actuator thereby pushing said arms forwardly to rock said booms and elevate their forward portions.

4. For use with a tractor having a hydraulic system, a front end loader comprising, in combination, a pair of support members adapted to be xed in longitudinally extending relation on either side of the tractor by fastening to the tractors rear axle housings and a ange forward on the tractors engine assembly, said support members having pivot seats located substantially midway along the length of the tractor, a pair of booms pivoted respectively in said seats, said booms having parallel forward portions extending to the front of the tractor, a material handling device carried between the forward ends of said booms, said forward portions being curved downwardly to clear the tractors front Wheels when said device rests on the ground, said booms further having arms depending from said pivot seats and reinforcing struts connected between said forward portions and said arms to form a braced triangular configuration, a cross beam exin combination, a pair of booms adapted to be pivotally mounted on either side of the tractor for rocking about a transverse axis, said booms each having a forwardly extending portion and a depending arm portion, a cross beam extending transversely beneath the tractor, horizontal pivot means connecting opposite ends of said beam to the lower extremities of said arm portions, an extensible hydraulic actuator disposed fore and aft on the underside of the tractor, said actuator being adapted to have horizontal pivot connection at its aft end with the tractor and being pivotally connected about a vertical axis at the midportion of said cross beam, extension and contraction of said actuator thereby serving to rock said booms to raise and lower said forward portions.

6. A front end loader attachment for use with tractors or the like comprising, in combination, a pair of cantilever support structures adapted to be attached to the rear axle housings of the tractor and extending forwardly to present pivot seats on opposite sides of the tractor substantially midway along its length, a pair of booms pivotally received in said seats and having forwardly extending portions and depending arm portions, a cross beam extending transversely beneath the underside of said tractor and pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the lower` extremities of said arm portions, an extensible actuator disposed in fore and aft relation beneath the tractor and supported solely by pivot connections at its fore and aft ends to the midportion of said cross beam and the underside of the tractor, respectively, and transverse projections extending inwardly from said support structures to bear against the tractor to thereby brace said support structures and booms against lateral movement.

7. For use with a tractor having transversely extending rear axle housings and foot rests projecting laterally in opposite directions from the midportion of the tractor, a front end loader attachment comprising, in combina tion, a pair of cantilever support structures each including upper and lower arms pivoted to the top and bottom of said axle housings and converging forwardly, a pair of pivot seats supported substantially midway along opposite sides of the tractor by said support structures, a pair of booms pivoted in said pivot seats and including forward portions extending to the front of the tractor and arm portions depending below the underside of the tractor, a cross beam extending transversely beneath the tractor and pivoted at its opposite ends to the lower extremities of respective ones of said arm portions, an extensible actua tor pivoted at its aft end to the underside of the tractor and at its forward end to the midportion of said cross beam, and transverse projections extending inwardly from said pivot seats to bear against the ends of said foot rests to thereby brace said support structures and booms against lateral shifting.

8. A front end loader as set forth in claim 5 further characterized in that the vertical pivot connection between the actuator and the cross beam is located forwardly of the horizontal pivot means at either end of the cross beam in the direction of effort of' the piston such th at the cross member is retained in normal relation to the actuator without a tendency to bend the latter.

9. A front end loader as set forth in claim 8 further characterized in that said cross beam comprises a U-shaped cross member with its side portions horizontally disposed and. opening rearwardly, @paced pairs i of .apertured i ears extending rearwardlyffrom either end of Sidfcross rn'emberfor receiving therlowerren'ds of the arm portions,I pivot pins inserted,horizontally through each oftsaidv pair of ears and the received arm portion, and a verticalpivot pin inserted through the cross members side portion-a, said actuator having an apertured forward tongue received on said vertical pin and between said sideportions.

References Cited: in ,the .tile .of this 'patent yUNITED .STATES PATENTS Hoi Apr."22, 1947 Beyerstedt July 6, 1948 Warren Nov. 9, 1948 Perman Nov. 16, 1948 Severin Sept. 6, 1949 Simmonds Jan. 17, 1950 Lacey June 13, 1950 Wagner Apr. 27, 1954 

